Technical Flaws of 5-Card Major Systems – Part 3

Ron Sutton • July 13, 2026

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July 13, 2026

2-Level Responses

The 2♥ Bid

Over a 1♠ opening, 2♥ shows game-forcing values (13+ HCP) and a 5-card or longer heart suit. It may or may not have 3-card support for spades. Because this bid provides specific information about the other major while leaving spade support undefined, it is 100% game-forcing and cannot be passed. If you play Standard American, you can choose to play 2♥ with your current definition.

ALERT: If you alert now continue the same alert.

The Artificial Game Forcing 2♦ Bid

The core strength of any game-forcing system is communicating on the very first response that the auction cannot be passed below 3NT or game. This eliminates the need to make distorting jump-bids just to show strength, preserving critical bidding space.

By combining all generic game-forcing hands into an artificial 2♦ waiting bid, we keep the auction low enough to explore the perfect final destination. This artificial bid will be the absolute workhorse of your modern bidding structure when both sides hold opening values.

ALERT: Artificial, game-forcing.

The 2♣ Bid

It instantly repairs the dual-range flaw of the standard 1NT response. It shows an 11–12 HCP hand and forces the opener to bid again.

ALERT: 11–12 HCP, forcing for one round.

One of the subtle technical flaws in 2/1 is that the responder is occasionally forced to manufacture a bid in a 3-card minor at the 2-level simply to establish the game force. In Modern Majors, when a minor suit is mentioned later in an auction, it is guaranteed to be a real suit, never a tactical maneuver to keep the bidding alive.

The 2NT Bid

The innovation we have added to major suit opening responses is replacing both the Jacoby 2NT and Bergen (or Reverse Bergen) 4-card support raises with a single bid: Compressed Bergen. These are two common gadgets in standard bidding to show raises for your partner’s opening major suit. The Jacoby 2NT bid shows a 13+ HCP hand and 4-card support. Bergen raises use a jump response to 3♣/3♦ show a 4-card support raise and approximate ranges of 6-9 HCP and 10-12 HCP. Modern American Majors compress these two systems into a single 2NT bid. This frees up the 3-level bids for other gadgets.

ALERT: Artificial; 6+ HCP with 4-card support.